Hello everyone! Today we are happy to announce that update 1806 for the Technical Preview Branch of System Center Configuration Manager has been released.

In response to your UserVoice feedback, this release adds support for third-party software update catalogs. The new third-party software updates node allows you to easily subscribe to partner software update catalogs in the Configuration Manager console and publish the updates to the Software Update Point. You can then deploy these updates to your clients using the familiar software update management process in Configuration Manager. Even better, Configuration Manager will keep things up to date by periodically synchronizing new released updates for your subscribed catalogs. Try it out and let us know what you think about it.

Microsoft 365 Adoption

Improvements to the Surface dashboard – The Surface dashboard now displays a list of relevant devices when graph sections are selected.

Office Customization Tool integration with the Office 365 Installer – The Office Customization Tool is now integrated with the Office 365 Installer in the Configuration Manager console. When creating a deployment for Office 365, you can now dynamically configure the latest Office manageability settings.

Streamlined Infrastructure

Content from cloud management gateway – Previously cloud distribution points and cloud management gateways had to be deployed as separate roles. Cloud management gateways now can serve content to clients. This functionality reduces the required certificates and cost of Azure VMs.

Simplified client bootstrap command line – There are now even fewer required parameters when bootstrapping the client over cloud management gateway

Improvements in OSD

Removed Network Access Account (NAA) requirement for OSD Boot Media – The network access account is no longer needed for boot media to communicate with the distribution to retrieve content.

Removed Network Access Account (NAA) requirement for Task Sequences – The network access account is no longer needed for Workgroup or AAD joined Windows clients when retrieving content during a task sequence.

Miscellaneous Improvements

Package Conversion Manager – Package Conversion Manager (PCM) is now integrated with Configuration Manger current branch. You can use PCM to convert classic software distribution packages into Configuration Manager current branch applications.

Deploy updates without content – You can now deploy software updates to devices without first downloading and distributing software update content to distribution points.

Currently logged on user information is shown in the console – Currently logged on user information is available to the IT Admin for communication and troubleshooting with the end-user.

Provision Windows app packages for all users on a device – You can now provision an application with a Windows app package for all users on the device. Previously Configuration Manager only supported installing these applications per user.

You will also notice some continued user interface enhancements to the CMPivot feature.

Update 1806 for Technical Preview Branch is available in the Configuration Manager Technical Preview console. For new installations please use the 1806 baseline version of Configuration Manager Technical Preview Branch available on TechNet Evaluation Center. Technical Preview Branch releases give you an opportunity to try out new Configuration Manager features in a test environment before they are made generally available.

We would love to hear your thoughts about the latest Technical Preview! Send us Feedback directly from the console. You may also use our feedback channels through the Feedback Hub app for product issues, and our UserVoice page for ideas about new features.

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